Archery tackle

ABSTRACT

Improved archery tackle is provided which comprises, in combination, an archery longbow and an archery bow arm guard and positioner device, preferably releasably connected to said bow. The device includes a transverse portion, a rearwardly extending spacer portion and a generally vertical arm guard portion positionable between the archer&#39;&#39;s bow arm and the bow string and being integral portions of a single bendable rod. The device may include bubble level(s) and/or distance-measuring indicia to indicate contact points of the bow arm therewith and brace height.

United States Patent 2,807,254 9/1957 Stribling 2,999,620 /1961 Haggard 3,389,695 6/1968 Roloffetal.

Inventor Robert Neville Crest 327 San Antonio Road, Arcadia, Calif.

91006 App]. No. 868,797 Filed Oct. 23, 1969 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 ARCHERY TACKLE 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 124/24, 124/ 30 Int. Cl. F41b 5/00 Field of Search 124/2325, 20, 22, 41, 30 R; 33/46 A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,511,221 5/1970 Saunders 124/20 2,464,068 3/1949 Bear 124/24 2,714,377 8/1955 Mulkey 124/24 3,063,151 11/1962 Hanson 33/46A 3,167,062 1/1965 Zwickey 124/23 3,337,960 8/1967 Paul et a1 33/46 A Primary Examiner- Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Donald E. Nist ABSTRACT: Improved archery tackle is provided which comprises, in combination, an archery longbow and an archery bow arm guard and positioner device, preferably releasably connected to said bow. The device includes a transverse por tion, a rearwardiy extending spacer portion and a generally vertical arm guard portion positionable between the archer's bow arm and the bow string and being integral portions of a single bendable rod. The device may include bubble 1eve1(s) and/or distance-measuring indicia to indicate contact points of the how am therewith and brace height.

PATENTEBunv 30 I97\ INVENTOR ROBERT NEVILLE CREST ATTORNEY 1 ARCHERY TACKLE BACKGROUND Modern archery bows are classifiable as crossbows and longbows. Crossbows have very clude In shooting a longbow, the arrow the bow string (along the center line is attached or nocked on of the bow) and rests on hand indexing means and no means are presently used for indexing the position of the bow wrist and bow arm.

archers use finger tabs or stalls or gloves which tend to cause the string. upon release during shooting, to drag there across, deflecting the string towards the bow arm, and causing it to assume an arc or S the bow arm release. it is conventional in order to protect the bow string contact with Accordingly.

arm. Such arm guards usually are leather or metal strips, plates or the like detachably affixed to the medial surface of the bow arm by means of elastic bands, etc. Thus, the bow string, instead ofhitting the bow arm, hits the arm guard.

Note, however, that any striking of the arm guard with the does tend to adversely affect arrow make the archer apprehensive and adversely affect his concentration and timing, and therefore his shooting, even if the arm guard is no more than occasionally perienced archers and those first taking up archery, when initial impressions determine whether or not the sport will be continued.

Accordingly, there is a need for a longbow arm guard which arm in the same relation to the bow, body and target from shot to shot so that shooting accuracy will be improved.

OBJECTS It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved bow arm ing means for accurately repositioning a bow hand, and bow arm in relation to a longbow, archers body, and target.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation ofa preferred embodiment of improved archery tackle of the invention, depicting of FIG. 3, with portions broken away to illustrate the internal construction thereof;

FIG. Sis a schematic top plan view ofa second embodiment of an improved arm guard device of the invention, with portions broken away to illustrate the internal construction thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the improved arm guard device ofthe invention.

SUMMARY The present invention may be summarized briefly as set forth in the foregoing abstract. It

device and a longbow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring more particularly to the present invention, FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings schematically depicts a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the improved arm guard device and improved archery tackle of the invention. As shown in FIG. I, the tackle comprises, in combination, a longbow l2 and improved arm guard device 14 connected thereto. The bow 12 may be any suitable bow, whether recurved or not, whether deflexed or not, fabricated of any suitable material, such as plastic, fiberglass, wood, metal, any combination thereof or of other materials. The bow 12 includes the usual arrow rest 16 and arrow plate 18 (FIG. 2) adapted to hold an arrow spaced above and away from the shelf 20 and wall 22 defining with wall 24 the sight window 26 (FIG. 2). The bow 12 also has limbs 28 and 30 joined by a section 32 containing a handle 34 (FIG. 2) for gripping the bow 12. A bow string 35 extends between the tips 36 and 38 of the limbs on the center line of the bow along the longitudinal axis thereof. It will be understood that the longbow 12 can be of any suitable construction, whether of the type depicted or a traditional old-style longbow or a so-called keyhole bow or the like.

The device 14 comprises a bow arm guard means 40 which extends generally vertically, as shown in FIG. 1, in the form of a cylindrical rod or in any other suitable form, eg a flat plate or strip, or arm which is oval shaped, etc. and fabricated of any suitable material e.g. wood, metal (aluminum, iron, steel, etc.), plastic, fiberglass, etc. Preferably, means 40 is fabricated of bendable metal such as aluminum. Means 40 is connected to a generally rearwardly extending spacer means 42, preferably (as shown in FIG. 1) by end-to-end construction or one piece construction. Spacer means 42 preferably is of like construction to means 40 and integral therewith and is, in turn, connected to transverse means 44 extending laterally from the side of the bow on which an arrow is to be disposed for shooting, i.e. transverse means 44 projects from about the midline of the bow, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, laterally outwardly from the side 46 of the bow nearest the archers arm when the bow I2 is held for shooting.

Connector means 48 are also provided adjacent the medial end of means 44 for connection of device 14 to bow l2. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, means 48 detachably connects device 14 to bow l2 and may include, as shown in FIG. 3, a steel screw 50 threadably connected to a threaded steel fixture 52 securely set in bow 12 below handle 34. Transverse means 44 comprises a steel cylinder 54 drilled to receive screw 50 through a hole 56 therein and releasably secure thereto by an alien-type screw 58 extending through a recess 60 in end 62 of cylinder 54. The opposite end 64 of cylinder 54 is provided with a hole 66 which receives the forward end 68 of spacer means 42 and is releasably secured thereto, as by allen-type screw 70 in a recess 72 in end 64. Thus, cylinder 54 can be set in various attitudes and inclinations and can be spaced rearwardly of (variable distances) handle 34. This in turn permits rearward adjustment of spacer means 42, as does the releasable method of connecting means 42 to cylinder 54.

Preferably, means 42 and 44 are disposed horizontally and means 40 verticaLly with respect to the bow 12, means 42 forming a right angle with both means 40 and means 44. Means 44 is sufficiently long i.e. dimensioned to extend lateral ofstring 35 a sufiicient distance (for example, about 1 inch) to assure that the string will not, upon its release after full draw during shooting, hit means 40. For this purpose, usually cylinder 54 need only be a fraction of an inch to something more than an inch long. Spacer means 42 is positioned in cylinder 54 so that means 40 is within an inch or so, usually within about one-half inch, but usually forward of, about parallel to and lateral of string 35 i.e. when the bow I2 is strung and the string 35 is in the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, and upon return of the string during shooting. For this purpose, the rearward extending length of means 42 can be varied with the brace height of bow I2, as by repositioning the forward end of means 42 in recess 72 by means of screw 70. When the string 35 is released, it does not travel much forward of its initial string position. Protection of the string from striking means 40 is afforded by proper lateral spacing and also proper forward spacing, if desired, of means 40 from string 35. If necessary, bending of means 40 or means 42 laterally inwardly or outwardly can be perfonned to obtain such proper lateral spacing; rotation of device 14 about its point of insertion can also be accomplished to position means 40 accurately.

As shown in FIG. 1 means 40 functions to protect the archer from having the string 35 strike his bow arm. Thus, the archers bow arm is prevented by means 40 from intersecting the string path, i.e. the path that the string 35 follows upon from full draw to its forward position. Thus, the archers bow arm is caused to assume a slight angle from the centerline of the bow, which angle is natural and reproducible and which permits the bow wrist and bow hand to be similarly oriented along the same straight line to the bow. This results in improved accuracy of shooting, since the impact area of a series of arrows on a target is in large partly determined by the degree of similarity of bold and shooting form form arrow to arrow for any given series of arrows. It is very important to maintain the same bow arm, bow wrist and bow hand relationship to the bow, body and target from shot to shot. Device 14 aids in obtaining this, since means 40 acts as a bow arm positioner and detent, allowing a straight line from the bow arm through the wrist and hand to be gauged, If, during the act of shooting but before the release, the archer detects a loss of contact of the medial surface of his bow arm with means 40 or increased pressure of that surface against means 40, he instantly knows that misalignment of the bow arm and also the bow wrist and bow hand is occurring. He can then easily correct such misalignment before the shot.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the improved bow arm guard device of the invention is depicted, wherein the arm guard means thereof is provided with indicia which aid the archer in measuring the area of contact of bow arm with the arm guard means for accurate repositioning. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, device 74 is provided comprising a flat rod 76, including a vertical guard portion 78 bearing on its rear surface a graduated scale 80 of markings, a horizontal rearwardly extending portion 82 bearing a similar scale 84 of markings on its upper surface and a transversely extending portion 86 having a transverse slot 88 therein. A threaded screw 90 extends through slot 88 and into a fixture 92 set in the belly 93 ofa long bow 94 below its handle (not shown). Two lock nuts 96 and 98 are provided on screw 90 between bow 94 and portion 86. A washer I00 and wing nut 102 are provided on screw 90 rearward of portion 86 to releasably lock device 74 in position on bow 94. Nuts 96, 98 and 102 allow some rearward adjustment in the positioning of device 74, while slot 88 allows transverse adjustment of device 74. A bubble level 104 is provided in portion 86 and a similar bubble level 106 in portion 78. Portion 78 is relatively thin and curved radially laterally to provide an essentially point contact with the archers bow arm.

A third embodiment of the improved arm guard device of the invention is depicted in perspective view in FIG. 7. In that Figure, a device 108 is provided comprising a round bendable rod 110 of aluminum, iron or the like, having a vertical arm guard portion 112, a horizontal spacer portion 114, a trans verse portion 116 and a connector portion I18, the latter including a threaded end 120 disposed in a threaded fixture 122 set in the belly of a longbow 124, end 120 being held releasably connected thereto by means of the screw threads thereof and by wing nut I26 disposed on end I20. Device 108 has the advantage of being very simple, light and inexpensive, and easy to install and remove from bow 124. The device depicted in FIG. 7 has been installed and used successfully by a number of target archers. The device is made of iron rod, suitably threaded and fitted as depicted. It is installed about 1-3 inches below the bow handle on the belly side of composite recurved bows.

Alternatively, the generally vertically extending means and the generally rearwardly extending means, if desired, can be combined to form a single unit which may, for example, extend on an are or slope in a rearwardly upwardly directed path. Moreover, if such unit is angled outwardly, it can thereby also comprise said generally transverse means. Such unit may terminate rearwardly with a ball or the like attached thereto to facilitate point contact with the bow arm.

Accordingly, an improved archery bow arm guard and positioning device is provided which is preferably releasably attachable to and detachable from a longbow. The invention also includes the longbow with the device installed therein. The device protects the bow arm from string contact, can be set to avoid all string contact, accurately repositioning the bow arm, wrist and hand in relation to the bow and has other advantages. It will be understood that various changes in the device and improved tackle of the invention can be made. All such anges as are within the scope of the appended claims form part of the present invention.

What is claimed is the following:

1. An improved archery bow arm guard and positioner device adapted to be positioned below the handle of an archery longbow and to extend rearwardly therefrom, said device comprising in combination:

a. generally vertically extending bow arm guard means;

b. generally rearwardly extending spacer means attached to said arm guard means;

c. generally transverse means attached to said means; and

d. connector means adapted to connect said transverse means to an archery longbow, wherein said arm guard means, spacer means and transverse means are integral portions of a single bendable rod, wherein said rod includes at least one bubble level and wherein said guard means includes a generally radially outwardly curved area having a thin lateral edge for point contact with the medial surface of an archers bow arm.

2. Improved archery tackle comprising, in combination, an archery longbow, having a string, an arrow rest on one side and a generally centrally located handle below said rest and an improved archery bow arm guard and positioner device connected to the belly of said bow below said handle, said device comprising, in combination, generally vertically extending bow arm guard means, generally rearwardly extending spacer spacer means attached to said arm guard means, generally transverse means attached to said spacer means, and connector means connected to said transverse means and said longbow, wherein said arm guard means, spacer means and transverse means are integral portions of a single bendable rod, said transverse means extending from about the midline of said bow laterally from the side of said bow having said arrow rest, to a point such that said arm guard means is disposed laterally of said string, said space means extending rearwardly from the belly of said bow to about the position of said string when said bow is strung, said connector means being adapted to permit rotation of said device to accurately position said arm guard means generally parallel to said strung string.

3. The improved archery tackle of claim 2 wherein (said guard means, spacer means and transverse mans are integral portions of a single bendable rod, wherein) said transverse means is adjustable laterally and said transverse means and said guard means are dimensioned such that said guard means is positionable at a location generally parallel to but spaced laterally from the string of a strung longbow, but between the medial surface of an archers bow arm and said string and wherein said spacer means is dimensioned to position said guard means adjacent the forward edge of said string on said strung bow and generally parallel thereto.

4. The improved archery tackle of claim 3 wherein at least one of said guard means and said spacer means bears lengthmeasuring indicia visible from a position behind said device and adapted to facilitate (in the case of said indicia on said guard means) measurement of the area of contact of an archers bow am with said guard means for accurate positioning of said bow arm, and (in the case of said indicia on said spacer means) measurement of the brace height of said bow, and wherein said rod includes at least one bubble level and wherein said guard means includes a generally radially outwardly curved area having a thin lateral edge for point contact with the medial surface of an archers bow arm.

5. The improved archery tackle of claim 4 wherein said rod is aluminum, said bow is a composite recurved bow, wherein said device is connected to said bow below said handle but above the lover limb of said bow and wherein said rod id sufficiently rigid to index the location of the bow arm to the same place each time the handle is gripped for shooting, and wherein said spacer means and said guard means are unitized in said rod, said rod sloping rearwardly upwardly, and a ball connected to the rearward terminus of said rod. 

1. An improved archery bow arm guard and positioner device adapted to be positioned below the handle of an archery longbow and to extend rearwardly therefrom, said device comprising in combination: a. generally vertically extending bow arm guard means; b. generally rearwardly extending spacer means attached to said arm guard means; c. generally transverse means attached to said spacer means; and d. connector means adapted to connect said transverse means to an archery longbow, wherein said arm guard means, spacer means and transverse means are integral portions of a single bendable rod, wherein said rod includes at least one bubble level and wherein said guard means includes a generally radially outwardly curved area having a thin lateral edge for point contact with the medial surface of an archer''s bow arm.
 2. Improved archery tackle comprising, in combination, an archery longbow, having a string, an arrow rest on one side and a generally centrally located handle below said rest and an improved archery bow arm guard and positioner device connected to the belly of said bow below said handle, said device comprising, in Combination, generally vertically extending bow arm guard means, generally rearwardly extending spacer means attached to said arm guard means, generally transverse means attached to said spacer means, and connector means connected to said transverse means and said longbow, wherein said arm guard means, spacer means and transverse means are integral portions of a single bendable rod, said transverse means extending from about the midline of said bow laterally from the side of said bow having said arrow rest, to a point such that said arm guard means is disposed laterally of said string, said space means extending rearwardly from the belly of said bow to about the position of said string when said bow is strung, said connector means being adapted to permit rotation of said device to accurately position said arm guard means generally parallel to said strung string.
 3. The improved archery tackle of claim 2 wherein (said guard means, spacer means and transverse mans are integral portions of a single bendable rod, wherein) said transverse means is adjustable laterally and said transverse means and said guard means are dimensioned such that said guard means is positionable at a location generally parallel to but spaced laterally from the string of a strung longbow, but between the medial surface of an archer''s bow arm and said string and wherein said spacer means is dimensioned to position said guard means adjacent the forward edge of said string on said strung bow and generally parallel thereto.
 4. The improved archery tackle of claim 3 wherein at least one of said guard means and said spacer means bears length-measuring indicia visible from a position behind said device and adapted to facilitate (in the case of said indicia on said guard means) measurement of the area of contact of an archer''s bow arm with said guard means for accurate positioning of said bow arm, and (in the case of said indicia on said spacer means) measurement of the brace heighth of said bow, and wherein said rod includes at least one bubble level and wherein said guard means includes a generally radially outwardly curved area having a thin lateral edge for point contact with the medial surface of an archer''s bow arm.
 5. The improved archery tackle of claim 4 wherein said rod is aluminum, said bow is a composite recurved bow, wherein said device is connected to said bow below said handle but above the lover limb of said bow and wherein said rod is sufficiently rigid to index the location of the bow arm to the same place each time the handle is gripped for shooting, and wherein said spacer means and said guard means are unitized in said rod, said rod sloping rearwardly upwardly, and a ball connected to the rearward terminus of said rod. 